Following an order from President Joe Biden’s administration last week, Massachusetts officially considered all K-12 teachers and other school workers to sign up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday.
According to the state’s website, the group includes anyone who works full-time or part-time at a public or private K-12 school, a Head Start program or a childminder.
The broad group – estimated at about 400,000 residents – also includes school volunteers and contractors.
However, the eligible group does not include employees of higher education or childminders and childminders who are privately employed, who remain in phase 3 of the implementation if they are not otherwise eligible for a vaccine.
Eligible individuals can book appointments at any of the state’s vaccination sites, and officials plan only four days of education on the state’s mass vaccination sites four months later.
Here is the list of who can and may not currently:
Eligible now:
- Educators
- Paraprofessional / professional teachers
- Childcare educators
- Family Child Care Assistants
- Program directors for child care
- Child care center directors
- District and school administrators
- Office staff and administrative staff
- Bus or minibus drivers
- Security staff
- Food service staff
- After-school program staff
- Student teachers, interns, teaching assistants and assistants
- School Security Officers
The group also includes’ people who work full-time, part-time or as volunteers in the school, or who are employed by another organization to provide education or support in a school or childcare environment (eg early intervention providers, student mentors, tutors, art programs, individuals responsible for observations or coaching of educators, etc.). ”
Not yet eligible:
- Higher education workers, including administrators, education and non-education staff
- Babysitters, babysitters and au pairs in private service
- Informal friend, family and neighbor care
- Camp Counselors
- Certified, licensed or retired educators who are not currently employed as educators
- Staff of the Department of Primary and Secondary Education, unless the individual serves as an educator (eg Educators at Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children)
- Department of Early Education and Care Staff, unless the individual is employed as a licensor or investigator to conduct site visits and inspections.
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